摘要：Objectives. We assessed predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries using data from 4 waves of the Canadian National Population Health Survey. Methods. Participants were 2806 working adults who completed an abbreviated version of the Job Content Questionnaire in 1994–1995 and did not experience repetitive strain injuries prior to 2000–2001. Potential previous wave predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries were modeled via multivariate logistic regression. Results. Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24, 3.18), some college or university education (OR=1.98; 95% CI=1.06, 3.70), job insecurity (OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.07, 2.91), high physical exertion levels (OR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.29, 3.12), and high levels of psychological demands (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.02, 2.52) were all positively associated with work-related repetitive strain injuries, whereas working less than 30 hours per week exhibited a negative association with such injuries (OR=0.2; 95% CI=0.1, 0.7). Conclusions. Modifiable job characteristics are important predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) and cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) are 2 of several terms used to describe a group of activity-related soft-tissue injuries that include tendonitis, forearm myalgia, and nerve entrapment syndromes, among other conditions. 1 The area affected by RSI and CTD may be only the upper limbs, may include the neck and upper back, 2 or may encompass the lower back and lower limbs as well. RSIs and CTDs represent an important burden arising from both sport- 3 and work-related 4 activity, the latter generating considerable societal and employer costs through workers’ compensation claims. 5 Performing biomechanical/physical tasks, organization of work associated with tasks, and psychosocial stressors at work are among the causes of work-related RSI and CTD. These diverse causes have lead many work and health researchers to prefer the term work-related musculoskeletal disorders. 6 – 8 Other researchers have studied the work-related exposures that contribute to RSI and CTD. A systematic review 9 conducted in 1997 indicated a preponderance of cross-sectional studies focusing on work-related exposures among specific populations. 10 A few longitudinal general population studies in which exposures are assessed in advance of outcomes have been carried out. 11 , 12 In our study, inclusion of job characteristic questions in the first wave of a Canadian national longitudinal survey and questions about RSI in subsequent waves allowed us to analyze predictors of work-related RSI.
